The earliest memory I have of realizing the connection between animals and the meat on our plates was when I was around 8 years old. I'm from Texas and my class went on a field trip to a farm (yes, some of the southern stereotypes are true lol). My mom served ribs for dinner and I was instantly upset. I didn't want to eat the cows I had just seen at the farm, it seemed wrong. I asked my parents what ribs were made out of and my parents explained to me that meat was a direct product from animals and farms, that animals were killed for people to eat meat products. My parents wouldn't allow me to be a vegetarian until I started middle school, like most parents in the early 2000's, they were worried about protein consumption and me eating enough calories. I was a vegetarian for a few years, then a pescetarian for three years and to date I've been a vegan for 5 years. The hardest part for me was to cut out dairy, even though I was very lactose intolerant - the irony is too real. My shift from pescetarian happened when I realized that sea creatures are just as sentient as land creatures, cattle etc and I shouldn't value one life over another - all lives should hold equal meaning. I can enjoy all the foods I love without being cruel or taking a life for my own tastebuds and that makes being a vegan even more sweet!
